Downtown panhandlers worry Pueblo merchants

They hold up cardboard signs at intersections — “Help a vet who lost his job” or “Need money for food.”

Pueblo Police officer, Shelly Taylor, gestures as she speaks to a group of downtown business owners about their problems with panhandlers during a meeting Tuesday afternoon February 11, 2014 at the Pueblo Convention Center in Pueblo, Colo. Many busness owners are frustrated with the increase in the numbers of panhandlers in the area and their increasingly agressive behavior. (Bryan Kelsen, The Pueblo Chieftain)

Pueblo police officer Shelly Taylor understands that people hand over a dollar or coins to help someone in need. Panhandlers rely on that.

“One guy I’ve dealt with has been holding up that same ‘Car broken down’ sign for years now,” Taylor explained. “And he lives on the South Side.”

Panhandling and vagrancy are on the rise in Pueblo and Taylor confirmed that to an audience of Downtown merchants Tuesday night. But she wanted to underline a few truths she’s learned in 14 years as a police officer.

Don’t give money to panhandlers. Most aren’t homeless and most homeless people don’t panhandle, she said.

A good number of the panhandlers you see on the streets live here, she said. She knows them by name.

“If you truly want to help, give money to organizations that provide shelter, food and services for the homeless. Most panhandlers are only going to spend the money on alcohol or drugs.”

But Downtown merchants are increasingly concerned about the panhandlers who are becoming more aggressive.

“They stand out in our parking lot, waiting as guests get their luggage out of their cars,” a Downtown hotel worker told Taylor. “That scares people.”

Pueblo doesn’t have a no-panhandling law. What police do enforce are no-loitering and no-trespassing ordinances.

Some merchants said City Council ought to consider a no-begging law but police Capt. Troy Davenport warned those have been struck down by the courts.

Taylor said merchants should call police when there is an aggressive panhandler bothering customers. Passive begging, with a sign on a corner, still is loitering and illegal, but usually not dangerous.

“But if someone is getting aggressive, blocking people’s paths or tapping them on the shoulder to ask for money, call us,” she advised. “That’s something we need to stop immediately.”